LETTER

SNC Lavalin: the law is clear 

In response to the letter from William Finseth on the SNC Lavalin affair, I totally disagree that the former Attorney General had a gross error of judgement when not overriding the decision made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Kathleen Roussel.  The Deferred Prosecution Agreements are a tool that may be exercised subject to certain conditions laid down by law.  Included in these conditions are that economic factors must not be considered when determining eligibility for a DPA. SNC Lavalin did not meet the eligibility criteria to be considered for a DPA and as a result charges have been laid.    

Canada operates under a system of Rule of Law and it was inappropriate that pressure should have been brought to bear on the former Attorney General to break the law.  If politicians do not like the law or if they believe that the law does not make sense, they have the power to change it, not to circumvent it. Mr Finseth’s letter tries to justify the actions of the Prime Minister and his colleagues as to what makes sense. That is irrelevant, if it  does not conform to the law.   Ms Wilson Raybould showed integrity by not bowing to pressure and by making the right call, in accordance with the law.  It is unfortunate that having done so she has been subject to so much abuse.  

Judith O’Rourke

Aylmer